第一次接触到这个乐队的歌，是在2014年的12月播出的一档综艺节目中。拍摄当时正值9月高粱收获的季节，所以节目组很应景地放了下面这首歌。
旋律一起来，我这个四肢不协调的人，竟然开始摇头晃脑，身体不由自主地想要扭起来，脚底板也随着韵律不停地踏踏踏。
一曲终了，听得我热血澎湃，于是马上百度去了解它的背景。
这首September是Earth,Wind & Fire （EWF）乐队于1978年创作的单曲，一发布就登上了R&B榜单冠军的位置。
EWF乐队成立于1970年，前期主要曲风以R&B、soul、朋克为主，主要突出自然歌声的魅力，而这段时期也被认为是EWF乐队最经典的时期。
80年代以后，EWF在歌曲中逐渐加入了电子、迪斯科、爵士等风格，曲风开始变得复杂，成为被一些批评者诟病的地方。
那又怎样，作为世界最大的（？）黑人摇滚乐队，EWF在世界音乐历史上产生了不可磨灭的影响。
而且《滚石》杂志也称EWF乐队“改变了黑人流行音乐”，并评价其歌曲“有创新性、准确又不失感性，令人叹为观止。”
但是，无论他们前期还是后期的音乐，我都很喜欢听，因为他们的歌里，充满了和平、灵性和爱意；无论MV中他们辣眼睛的造型还是洒脱不羁的舞步，都无法阻挡他们成为那个时代最燃的摇滚乐队！
下面奉上EWF乐队的7首精选歌曲，一起来感受EWF的魅力吧。
1. Shining Star (1975)
这首歌虽然欢快得像party歌曲，但是一点也不妨碍它是一首励志歌曲。2000年，当EWF乐队加入摇滚名人堂的时候，他们回忆说，《That's the Way of the World》这张专辑制作过程很漫长，他们甚至觉得不可能成功。但这时候，Shining Star出现了，拯救了整张专辑。
正如这首歌表达的，无论是谁，都可以成为自己的明星。只要你有梦想，它就能带你到想去的地方，让你看到你真正的模样。
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams will take you very far
But when you wish upon a dream
Life ain't always what it seems
What'd you see on a night so clear
In the sky so very dear
You're a shining star
No matter who you are
Shining bright to see
What you could truly be (what you could truly be)
Shining star come in to view
Shine its watchful light on you
Give you strength to carry on
Make your body big and strong
Born a man child of the sun
Saw my work had just begun
Found I had to stand alone
Bless it now I've got my own
So, if you find yourself in need
Why don't you listen to these words of heed
Be a giant grain of sand
Words of wisdom, yes I can
You're a shining star
No matter who you are
Shining bright to see
What you could truly be
You're a shining star
No matter who you are
Shining bright to see
What you could truly be
You're a shining star
No matter who you are
Shining bright to see
What you could truly be
Shinning star for you to see
What your life can truly be
Shinning star for you to see
What your life can truly be
Shinning star for you to see
What your life can truly be
Songwriters: Lorenzo Dunn / Philip Bailey / Maurice White
Shining Star lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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图片来自网络
2. Sing A Song (1975)
2. Sing A Song (1975)
歌词虽简短，但却充满乐观和鼓励，再加上感染性极强的迪斯科曲风，表达出音乐的治愈力量。没有什么是一首音乐解决不了的，如果有，那就两首。
确实，每当我情绪低落时，第一时间想到的不是找人倾诉，而是唱歌。开着音乐轻声哼唱，或者用唱歌软件高歌一曲，郁闷的或伤感的情绪总会随感性的旋律释放出来。一曲过后，满血复活！
When you feel down and out
Sing a song, it'll make your day yeah yeah
Here's a time to shout
Sing a song, it'll make a way
Sometimes it's hard to care
Sing a song, it'll make your day
A smile so hard to bear
Sing a song, it'll make a way
Singasong
Singasong
Singasong
Singasong
Bring your heart to believing
Sing a song, it'll make your day yeah ah
Life ain't about no retrieving
Sing a song, it'll make a way
Give yourself what you need
Sing a song, it'll make your day
Smile, smile, smile and believe
Sing a song, it'll make a way
Singasong
Singasong
Singasong
Singasong [Repeat]
Songwriters: Al Mckay / Maurice White
Sing A Song lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
3. Got to Get You into My Life (1978)
这首歌由The Beatles在1966年发布，EWF1978年翻唱。
不同于原唱中简洁的开场，翻唱版中EWF加了很长的前奏，演奏乐器也增加了EWF标志性的唢呐，使得整首歌听起来非常带感。虽然The Beatles是我一直非常喜欢的乐队，但在我听来，EWF对这首歌的翻唱水平超过The Beatles。
上次觉得翻唱比原版好，还是李昇基在《柳熙烈的写生簿》中，现场演唱的《刺》。无论是摇滚嗓、爆发力还是需要极稳气息的长音，都非常棒，甚至得到了原唱的夸赞。
Got to get you into my life, into my life
Got to get you into my life, into my life
Got to get you into my life, into my life
Got to get you into my life, into my life
Got to get you into my life, into my life
I was alone, I took a ride
I didn't know what I would find there
Another road where maybe
I could see another sign there
Oo, then I suddenly see you
Oo, and did I tell you I need you
Ev'ry single day of my life
You didn't run, you didn't lie
You knewI wanna to hold you
And had you gone you knew in time
We'd meet again for I had told you
Oh, you were meant to be near me
Oh, I really want for you to hear me
Say we'll be together every day
Got to get you into my life
Got to get you in, got to get you into my life
Got to get you into my life
Got to get you in, got to get you into my life
Got to get you into my life
Ooo, then I suddenly see you
Ooo, and did I tell you that I need you
Every single day of my life
Got to get you into my life
Got to get you in, got to get you into my life
Got to get you into my life
Got to get you into my life
Got to get you in, got to get you in
Got to get you in, got to get you in
Into my life
Got to get you into my life
Got to get you in, got to get you in
Got to get you in, got to get you in
Into my life
Got to get you into my life
Got to get you in, got to get you in
Songwriters: John Lennon / John Winston Lennon / Paul Mccartney / Paul James Mccartney
Got To Get You Into My Life lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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图片来自网络
4. September (1978)
4. September (1978)
这首歌是我的最爱之一。最让我惊喜的是歌曲中间部分的假声，高昂、有灵性，听完整个人都沸腾了！废话不多说，直接听！
Do you remember the
21st night of September?
Love was changing the minds of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away
Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing.
As we danced in the night,
Remember how the stars stole the night away
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day
Ba duda, ba duda, ba duda, badu
Ba duda, badu, ba duda, badu
Ba duda, badu, ba duda
My thoughts are with you
Holding hands with your heart to see you
Only blue talk and love,
Remember how we knew love was here to stay
Now December found the love we shared in September.
Only blue talk and love,
Remember the true love we share today
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day
There was a
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - golden dreams were shiny days
The bell was ringing, aha
Our souls were singing
Do you remember
Never a cloudy day
There was a
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day
There was a
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - golden dreams were shiny days
Ba de ya de ya de ya
Ba de ya de ya de ya
ba de ya de ya de ya
De ya
Ba de ya de ya de ya
Ba de ya de ya de ya
ba de ya de ya de ya
Songwriters: Al Mc Kay / Allee Willis / Maurice White
September lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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图片来自网络
5. Boogie Wonderland (1979)
5. Boogie Wonderland (1979)
如果说前面的几首歌摇滚元素更多一点的话，这首歌我觉得更像一曲迪斯科。有什么比去仙境跳舞更重要的呢？记得陈慧琳有首歌《不如跳舞》，通过舞蹈来交流和相处，就没有人会觉得孤独，也没有包袱。
有些烦恼就让它在舞蹈中消失吧！然后你会发现“All the love in the world can't be gone, All the need to be loved can't be wrong.” 跟着音乐一起摇摆“You dance and shake the hurt！”
Dance, boogie wonderland
Ha, ha, dance
Boogie wonderland
Midnight creeps so slowly into hearts of men who need more than they get
Daylight deals a bad hand to a woman who has laid too many bets
The mirror stares you in the face and says
"Baby, uh, uh, it don't work"
You say your prayers though you don't care
You dance and shake the hurt
Dance, boogie wonderland
Ha, ha, dance
Boogie wonderland
Sounds fly through the night
I chase my vinyl dreams to Boogie Wonderland
I find romance when I start to dance in Boogie Wonderland
I find romance when I start to dance in Boogie Wonderland
All the love in the world can't be gone
All the need to be loved can't be wrong
All the records are playing and my heart keeps saying
"Boogie wonderland, wonderland"
Dance, boogie wonderland
Dance, boogie wonderland
All the love in the world can't be gone
All the need to be loved can't be wrong
All the records are playing
And my heart keeps saying
"Boogie wonderland, wonderland"
Dance, boogie wonderland
Ha, ha, dance
Boogie wonderland
6. After the Love Has Gone (1979)
少有的一首抒情歌曲。前半段温柔的嗓音，加上副歌部分的假声和萨克斯风情，让人在听的时候情不自禁会闭上眼睛，陷入它柔和的歌声和细腻的感情中。
For a while, to love was all we could do
We were young and we knew, and our eyes were alive
Deep inside we knew our love was true
For a while we paid no mind to the past
We knew love would last
Every night somethin' right
Would invite us to begin the dance
Somethin' happened along the way
What used to be happy was sad
Somethin' happened along the way
And yesterday was all we had
And oh, after the love has gone
How could you lead me on
And not let me stay around?
Oh, after the love has gone
What used to be right is wrong
Can love that's lost be found?
For a while to love each other
With all we would ever need
Love was strong for so long
Never knew that what was wrong
Baby, wasn't right
We tried to find what we had
'Til sadness was all we shared
We were…
7. Let's Groove (1981)
不知怎的，每当它魔性的旋律响起，我总有种在听小虎队歌曲的感觉，脑海里挥之不去的还有小虎队那活力四射但又充满魔性的舞蹈。
不难发现，在这首歌里，电子元素开始出现，尤其是歌曲开头和结尾部分更为明显，给人耳目一新的感觉。
Let's groove tonight
Share the spice of life
Baby slice it right
We're gonna groove tonight
Let this groove get you to move
It's alright (alright) alright
Let this groove set in your shoes
So stand up (alright) alright
Gonna tell what you can do with my love
Alright
Let you know girl
You're looking good, you're out of sight
Alright
Just move yourself
And glide like a seven-forty-seven
And lose you're self in the sky
Among the clouds in the heavens 'cause
Let this groove light up your fuse
It's alright (alright) alright, oh oh
Let this groove set in your shoes
So stand up (alright) alright
Let me tell you what you can do with my love
Alright
Gotta let you know girl
You're looking good you're out of sight
Alright
Just tell the D.J. to play your favorite tune
Then you…
以上几首歌曲只是EWF众多作品中的冰山一角，很多其他的曲子也非常好听，带着乐队的特色和时代的烙印。在重金属音乐盛行的今天，我们不妨回过头去，听听老音乐，品味记忆中的旋律带来的感动。
信息参考来源：
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/earth-wind-fire-12-essential-songs-20160204/boogie-wonderland-1979-20160204
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth,_Wind_%26_Fire
图片来自网络
